Asuka’s WWE Return Window Revealed—Won’t Appear at WrestleMania 41

Fans hoping for an Asuka return at WrestleMania 41 can finally stop guessing—she’s not coming back just yet.

According to PWNexus, the former WWE Women’s Champion is now expected to return to the Raw roster in May, “likely after Backlash.” That update puts an end to weeks of speculation surrounding her status and confirms that she’ll be sitting out the biggest show of the year.

Asuka has been out of action since undergoing knee surgery following her tag team title loss alongside Kairi Sane at Backlash France in April 2024. Despite pushing through the injury for months, she eventually stepped away to begin her recovery. WWE has reportedly taken a cautious approach with her return, prioritizing her long-term health over a rushed comeback.

Creative plans for Asuka had been pitched as far back as January, with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp noting that she was “pitched for a tag team program,” but nothing ever came to life. Sapp also clarified recently that he hasn’t heard any updates since those initial discussions, which caused confusion when fans kept asking if Asuka might show up at WrestleMania 41.

That’s now cleared up, thanks to this new timeline.

Back in January and February, fans followed her YouTube vlogs for recovery updates, but she’s kept a low profile in recent months. There’s been no word of her training at the WWE Performance Center, further hinting that the company is in no rush to bring her back until she’s fully ready.

With her return set for May, WWE could be saving Asuka for a post-Backlash storyline reboot—giving her a clean slate and a high-impact return when the time is right.

Are you excited for Asuka’s return in May, or do you think WWE should’ve saved her for a surprise comeback at WrestleMania? Let us know what you think in the comments below.